Which of the following is an effective way to increase the rate of a chemical reaction?

• A. Increase the concentration of reactants
• B. Reduce the surface area of solid reactants
• C. Remove any catalysts present
• D. Decrease the temperature of the system

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that the rate of a chemical reaction depends on factors such as concentration, temperature, surface area, and catalysts.
2. Recall that increasing the concentration of reactants generally increases the frequency of collisions between reactant molecules, which can increase the reaction rate.
3. Recognize that reducing the surface area of solid reactants decreases the area available for reaction, which typically slows down the reaction rate.
4. Know that removing catalysts eliminates substances that lower the activation energy, thus decreasing the reaction rate.
5. Understand that decreasing the temperature reduces the kinetic energy of molecules, leading to fewer effective collisions and a slower reaction rate.